After inheriting a stagnant economy from a JB cashgate regime that exploited corrupted public finances systems created by its predecessors who, in turn, seem to have institutionalized their parent-partys personalization-of-public-resources culture (basically broadening the founding leaderships zonse zimene mantra so more in leadership benefited with impunity), after inheriting this, it is curious to note that the barebones 2014/15 budget included (1) the freezing of civil servant salaries, (2) the doubling and in some cases tripling of (a) Parliamentarians and (b) Cabinet and (c) Presidency salaries plus enhanced perks, (3) the quantum increasing of a broad range of taxes and other levies that exact their highest impact on the poorest in society, and (4) the skyrocketing to historical highs of local fuel prices when global fuel prices are plummeting to record lows. It is troubling that some citizens are quick to point out the unpatriotic excesses in other political parties leaderships whilst turning a blind eye to their own partys similar excesses. We have one country only, not four countries based on four political parties represented in parliament (note point 2 (a) above). I understand the call for widespread strikes. I recall, for example, how some mass actions are held overseas. The strikers go out of their way to sustain the strike actions whilst also getting the job done. Some stage one-day-per week strikes until their demands are met. Some have rolling strikes so that the economy or services are not irreparably compromised. In some cases relatives or the general public can stage the mass actions in support of their working compatriots. In and of themselves widespread strikes, while understandably necessitated by the evident excesses of the already privileged, will not necessarily help steady the state of the nation. On the other hand, fully and expeditiously investigating Cashgate, pre-Cashgate, and pre-pre-Cashgate will help clean out government and will provide the highest possibilities for recovering pilfered public resources. Waking up to the active realization that prioritizing Malawis interests over political parties interests would also serve our country well. Pressuring MPs and executive branch leaders to all forego their salary and benefits increments, and pressuring them to go the extra step of responsibly reducing their packages even to half of what they were on June 1st would demonstrate seriousness and genuine patriotism. Additionally, transferring each MPs +/- K23 million loan package to commercial lending institutions, collateralized individually would also demonstrate due empathy with the state of the nation as experienced in townships and villages around the country. Malawi would benefit from a more robust application of the rights and responsibilities inherent in a culture of genuine separation of powers. This applies not only to separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary, but also between Church and State, between Civil Society and State, and between traditional and government authorities. The blurring of lines between CSOs and the State is particularly troubling as it runs the risk of muting voices of organized vigilance against excesses by elected entities. As citizens, Malawians would also do well to not leave the voice of corrective rebuke to foreign bilateral and multilateral institutions. We citizens, collectively, need to become constructively and purposefully proactive in advocating for the restoration of ethical public service. This includes resolutely refusing to jump the cue, refusing to pay bribes in exchange for preferential treatment in procuring services, and refusing to feed the senseless and destructive national pastimes of rumor-mongering and pull-others-down syndrome. We have a nation to salvage, not to help destruct. Finally, engaging in mature, policy-based exchanges of views amongst all stakeholders will yield more constructive results for our nation that partisan finger-pointing and mudslinging. Respecting the right of each to have their own views also helps. How about we all encourage the contribution of ideas towards building a new, broad-based empowerment of political and economic reality for all of Malawi and all Malawians, regardless of political party affiliation? One Malawi! Chuma cha aMalawi chiziphindulila aMalawi.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 15:36:32 +0000
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